Collapsible stand for christmas trees and the like



D. ToNG Sept. 1, 1970 COLLAPSIBLE STAND FOR CHISTMAS TREES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 21, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR gm/c4 754/6 ATTORNEY United States Patent 01 fice 3,526,380 Patented Sept. 1, 1970 US. Cl. 24846 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible tree stand which is preferably molded of plastic material and which comprises an upstanding hollow central core member of substantial depth, provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced abutments extending from the external surface thereof, to each of which is pivotally mounted a molded plastic leg having a bifurcated end for embracing the respective abutment for pivotal movement around an axis near the bottom of the latter, between an inoperative position of the legs extending downwardly from the lower end of the core member to an operative transversely disposed position whereat the bifurcated end abuts against the substantial height of the core member to impart stability to the latter. The legs are preferably molded in the form of a web with opposed flanges extending from the perimeter thereof, which presents outwardly extending flanges at the bifurcated end of the legs which seat against complementary surfaces molded on the exterior of the central core member.

This invention relates to a collapsible stand for Christmas trees and the like, which may be fabricated at low cost of molded plastic material, and which is capable of easy assembly to provide a stable support for Christmas trees or analogous staffs, despite the light weight of the assembly, and which may be folded compactly for storage or shipment.

It is the object of the invention to provide an economical and rugged, yet light-weight assembly, with consequent low shipping costs, which utilizes most efliciently the strength of the molded material by virtue of the structural design of the individual components as well as the tight interfitting of the parts in the assembled position of the stand.

By virtue of the efficiency in design, and the low cost of manufacture and assembly of the component parts, the instant invention presents a distinct improvement over similar stands known in the prior art, of which that disclosed in the US. Pat. No. 2,537,826, Jan. 9, 1951, is illustrative.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a plan view of the stand for Christmas trees and the like of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. Zis a front elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the central portion of FIG. 2 showing the parts of the stand in operative position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the parts in folded inoperative position; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view along line 66 of FIG. 3.

In the drawings is shown a stand for Christmas trees, flagstaifs or the like, in accordance with the invention, composed essentially of a central core member C and a plurality of radially disposed leg members L pivotally connected thereto, and adapted to assume alternative operative and inoperative positions.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, the legs L are shown extending transversely to the core member C for the purpose of providing a stable support for the latter in its upstanding vertical position, while FIG. 5 shows the legs extending downwardly in inoperative position relative to the core member for convenient storage and shipment.

All of the parts are molded from plastic material and only the fastener screws which interconnect the legs with the core may be formed of metal.

The core member C is constituted by a central body 1 of generally cylindrical outline having a bore 2 extending through the height thereof with an enlargement 8 at its top with a plurality of abutments 4 molded integrally on the external surface thereof equidistantly from each other with spaces 3 therebetween. While three such abut ments for mounting three lugs L are sufficient to provide a stable support for the core member C, if desired, four abutments may be molded on the external surface of the core member displaced from each other rather than as shown in the illustrated embodiment.

The opposite lateral surfaces 4' of each abutment are plane, and constitute bearing surfaces for the bifurcated end of the leg connected thereto, as explained in greater detail below.

The other vertical edge 5 of each abutment 4 may be a plane surface extending parallel to the axis of the core member, or if desired, may be shaped in any manner in view of the fact that the end surface 5 does not constitute a bearing surface for the leg connected therewith.

Squared shoulders 7 are formed on the external surface of the core at the opposite side of each abutment 4, and extend in vertical planes for cooperation with companion plane surfaces on the bifurcated end of the leg which is connected to each abutment of the core member.

The legs L which are connected to the core member C may be mass-produced at low cost by molding procedures and are characterized by high strength. Each leg is formed of a central web 10 and is provided with oppositely directed flanges 15 extending around the entire perimeter thereof, in the nature of a structural I-beam, thereby imparting both strength and stability to the leg despite its light weight.

The bottom margin of each leg L is provided at its outer end with a contact area 12 adapted to rest on a supporting surface S, while the lower edge 13 at the opposite end is displaced slightly from the supporting surfaces. This eliminates the possibilities of rocking, while providing a measure of support in the loaded condition of the stand. The inner end of each leg is molded in bifurcated form, and the opposite branches 11 thereof are adapted to embrace the respective protuberance 4 with the inner surfaces of the branches 11 making close contact with the external surfaces 4' of the respective protuberance. In addition, the flange 17 extends vertically and outwardly from each branch 11 and the external surface of each flange 17 abuts tightly against each squared shoulder 7 of the core member, in the operative position of the legs as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The legs are interconnected with the central core member by the provision of aperture 6 near the bottom of each protuberance which are in alignment with coaxial apertures 18 and 19 in the branches 11 of the bifurcated end of each leg. A tap screw 20 is passed through aperture 18 in one of the branches and through aperture 6 for threaded engagement with the aperture 19 in the opposite branch, for maintaining the parts in interconnected position for pivotal movement between the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 which permits the swinging of the legs from the operative position of the stand shown in FIG. 4 to the inoperative position shown in FIG. 5.

If desired, a bolt and nut assembly may be used in lieu of a connecting screw for passage through apertures 18, 6 and 19 for pivotally connecting each leg to its respective abutment 4.

The construction described above makes the most efficient use of the molded plastic material and results in a strong and stable assembly by virtue of the substantial height of the core member and the large contacting surface area between the core and the leg components. The height or depth of the core member is preferably three to four times the diameter of the central opening therein.

While I have described my invention as embodied in specific forms and as operating in specific manners for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible stand for Christmas trees and the like, formed of molded material and comprising (a) a central core member provided with a central opening of substantially circular cross-section and a plurality of integral vertical abutments extending radially from the external surface of said core member at equidistant angular displacements from each other and for substantially the entire height of said core member, with seating surfaces on said core member extending transversely to the lateral surfaces of said abutments at the junction lines of the latter with said core member,

(b) said core member being of substantial height and so proportioned that said height is several times the diameter of said central opening,

(c) a plurality of pivotally mounted supporting legs for said core member, corresponding in number to said vertical abutments, each provided with a bifurcated end with outwardly extending flanges, the inner Walls of which legs closely embrace the outer lateral walls of the respective abutment on which it is mounted, while the flanges are adapted to rest against said seating surfaces molded on said core adjacent to said abutments, to enhance the stability of the stand,

(d) a transversely disposed contact area on each leg remote from the bifurcated end adapted to rest in contact with a supporting surface, and

(e) a pivoted joint extending through each bifurcated end and passing through an opening provided near the lower end of the respective abutment to permit a rotary movement of substantially from the folded position of said legs to the operative position thereof, whereat the bifurcated end of each leg and flanges thereon abuts against the outer surface of said core member and seating surfaces complemental to said flanges, and embraces its abutment for substantially its entire height to impart stability to the stand when it rests on a surface at the contact areas of said legs remote from said core member.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the height of said core member is approximately three to four times the diameter of said central opening.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said radial abutments are displaced approximately from each other.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein each supporting leg is formed with a central web with oppositely directed flanges extending transversely to the plane thereof and for the entire perimeter thereof, said flanges being continuations of said outwardly directed flanges at the bifurcated end thereof.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said perimetric flanges at the bottom of each leg remote from the bifurcated end constitute said contact area on each leg with the supporting surface,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,750 10/191] Schwaderer M 248--48 2,502,229 3/1950 Miller 248168 2,537,826 1/1951 Hauser 24846 3,233,517 2/1966 Morrison 248166 X ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 248188 6, 188.7 

